Idaho Bowl: Closer Look at the 8th Grade Quarterbacks Selected

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In its first year, the Idaho Bowl is a 6th, 7th and 8th grade INVITE ONLY Bowl Game series consisting of the best athletes from all across the Gem State. Athletes are reviewed through a nomination process and selected by the Idaho Bowl Nomination Committee. Across the three games/grade levels, there are athletes locked in representing over 75 different future high schools throughout the state. Here'a look at the 8th grade (class of 2028) quarterbacks selected for this year's game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1254990"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"In my eyes, the unquestioned alpha male of the four prospects selected to play quarterback in the 2024 Idaho Bowl. Miller is put together very well and has impressive strength for a 2028 prospect, with the weight room numbers to back it up. Already benches 225 pounds, squats over 400 and as of November already claimed a 33u0022 vertical jump. Also, widely thought of as a talented hooper as well, the 5-foot-10, 165-pounder will be off to Wallace High School in the fall, where he has every opportunity in the world to come in and earn the starting job. Miller has led this 2028 group to back-to-back undefeated seasons and an overall record of 18-2 over the last three years. While he's found success on the middle school level, the varsity Miners finished 3-5 this past season and averaged just 23 points per gameu002du002dwhich was aided greatly by a season high 52-points in their season-opener over a winless Kootenai team. Miller and this 2028 class could just be the shot in the arm that Wallance needs. Ahead of that though, he'll be slingin' the rock for the Blue Team in the Idaho Bowl.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6626dfd32ad8c"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1255091' first='Cooper' last='Owens']</strong> | <strong><em>Fruitland </em></strong>- Interestingly enough, another quarterback named Cooper who got the nod in the 2024 8th Grade Idaho Bowl--except he'll be quarterbacking the Red Team. Owens is the other quarterback that I really took a liking to out of the four that are selected. At 5-foot-10 and 145-pounds, obviously his size is an immediate separator at this level in the state of Idaho. When you factor in his prowess as a wrestler, the type of student-athlete he is, really starts to shine. A 7-time district champ who also finished 5th in the Idaho State tournament at 138-pounds this year, he's a kid with a ton of physical and mental toughness that won't quit until the final whistle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1255109' first='Jaxson' last='Nelson']</strong> | <strong><em>Lake City</em></strong> - Joining the above-mentioned [player_tooltip player_id='1255091' first='Cooper' last='Owens'] as the signal callers for the Red Team in the 2024 8th Grade Idaho Bowl, Nelson brings a balanced approach to the position At 5-foot-8 and 150-pounds, Nelson has a unique delivery. He does a great job of keeping his elbow up and shifting weight as he throws. Of the film I've seen, Nelson operated exclusively out of the shotgun formation and excelled on shorter throws into the middle of the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1255110' first='Micah' last='Dougherty']</strong> | <strong><em>Madison</em></strong> - In full disclosure, I haven't seen Dougherty on film and can't speak much to what kind of physical player he is. Other than the fact that he will be the smallest of the four field generals selected to the game, at 5-foot-8 and 130-pounds. While his physical stature is certainly on the small side, playing the quarterback position is also about intelligence and operating in high pressure situations. The fact that Dougherty is on record saying he can solve a Rubik's Cube in under two minutes, may give the cerebral edge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->